Air conditioning system and method



Oct. 22, 1935. E. L. GARFIELD AIR GONDTONNG SYSTEM ANT M ET H [TDOriginal Filed Nov. 18,

BY h1 s ATTORNEYS.

Ressued Oct. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE 19,729 AIBCONDITIONING SYSTEM AND METHOD tured ice.

Edward L.

lee

Serial No. 496.424, November 18, cation for reissue Ap al No. 1,987,188,

and method for condition trolling its Garfield, Scarsdale, N. Y., AirConditioning Company, Ine., N. Y., a corporatie Origin assigner to NewYork,

n of New York dated January 8, 1935,

1930. Appliril 12, 1935, Serial No.

9 Claims. (Cl. 62-176l n general to a system ing air, that is,contemperature and humidity.

m employing natural One of the objects of this invention is theprovision of an apparatus and tioning air,

ethod for condiice or manufac- A further object of the invention is theprovision oi' apparatus and method employing natmanufactured ice inwhich water is ural ice or allowed to before it is sprayed the provisionof appara the warmest water, af an amount approximately eq flow overfrom the melting ice.

A still further object of the provision or such a system and trollingthe amount around the reduced in of water ice as the ice melts order tomaintain perature of the spraying water. A still further object of thisprovision with the same apparatus of of conditioning air at such timesas or circulate around the ice into the incoming air, and tus todischarge to waste ter spraying into air, in ual to the water inventionis the method for coniiowing over or and its surface is the properteminvention is the a method its relative humidity, vapor pressure andthe like are such as to produce the culating and spraying w ing thewater.

An imprtant object of desired cooling eifect by cirater into it withoutcoolthis invention involves the control of the amount of water owed overthe surface of the ice be air to be conditioned, so will be atsubstantially the quantity of Another ice diminishes. important objectof the provision of thermostatic trolling the mec the amount oi retu tothe receptacle of the These and other objects as the following discithis invention.

This invention resi combination, construction, tive location of as willbe set fo Referring to a sectional diagrammatic view of this invention.

attempts to employ natural ice or Previous manufactured ice in for usein rooms, and indeed the necessity for compensating fore it is sprayedinto the that the cooling water` the same temperature as this inventionis means for conhanical valve which proportions rn water going icechamber.

to the ice and will appear from osure are secured by means of dessubstantially in the arrangement, relaparts, steps and series of steps,rth in detail below.

the drawing, the single ligure is of the apparatus cooling andconditioning air for any use, has

lor users did not realize for the reduction in area of the ice as itmelted, and hence were not able to get uniformly conditioned air, Ifthey did realize this reason for not being able to get uniformlyconditioned air, they conceived no means or method by which suchcompensation could be eiected.

- The general object of this invention is to provide an air conditioningthat is humidifying and cooling, apparatus and method employing ice bywhich as the ice melts a uniformly conditioned air is produced.

The apparatus and method will best be understood by direct and detailreference to the drawing.

At I is shown the room or place the air of which is to be conditioned.It is of course apparent that the conditioned air may be used for anydesired purpose. At 2 is an opening extericrly of the space into theopen atmosphere, which is controlled by means oi a suitable shutter 20arrangement 3 to vary the amount of fresh entering air. Air passesthrough this opening into a chamber l within which is mounted a suitablewater receptacle 5. Projected into this chamber and through the waterreceptacle is a pipe 6 con- 25 trolled by a valve 1 and having aplurality of nozzles 8 directed into the path of the incoming air. Thelower end of pipe 6 is connected to the discharge port of a suitablepump 9. The intake port of this pump is connected to pipe III. The 3oice cabinet or chamber is shown at II, and is provided at the bottomwith a water receptacle. The water receptacle is substantially dividedinto a large body and a smaller body I2 by means oi.' one of the wallsof the ice chamber. This wall 35 is provided with a passage I3. Thelevel of the smaller water body I2 is maintained at a predeterminedpoint by means of pipe I4 which delivers into a drain. Within the icechamber Il is a perforated platform i5 upon which the ice 40 rests. Itis noted that pipe iIl projects into the large water body in the icecabinet. The cover i6 is removed when it is desired to place ice withinthe ice chamber.

The water receptacle 5 is connected by a pipe I1 which is submerged inthe smaller water body I2. This pipe is provided with a control valve 2Dand a mixing valve I9. The mixing valve can of course be o! any of themany well known forms. Pipe I1 and mixing valve I9 are connected by abranch pipe IB which extends into the ice chamber and is provided with aseries of nozzles which spray water over the ice. Pipe 1 within chamberl is provided with a branch pipe 2l which connects to the discharge portof 65 a pump 23. This pipe is provided with a control valve 22. Thesecond port oi' the pump 23 is connected by pipe 24 to a point below thewater level in receptacle 5. The discharge end of chamber 4 is providedwith a series of vertical eliminator plates 25 of any known constructionby means of which the drops of water sprayed into the air are removedtherefrom. The discharge end of chamber 4 is connected by pipe 26 to theintake port of a blower 21. The delivery port of this blower isconnected by pipe 28 to the space I. A suitable damper or nap valve 2!is provided to control the amount and velocity of air being dischargedinto the space. Pipe 28 should discharge into the space I near the topthereof. An air pipe 30 connects space I near the bottom thereof withchamber 4. At the point where pipe 30 enters chamber I there is provideda suitable shutter valve 3| for controlling the amount of air deliveredthereinto. In the operation of this system air valves 3, 29. and 3| areadjusted so that the proper quantity of fresh air is.being deliveredinto the space I and the air in the space is being recirculated at thedesired rate. When ice is to be used for reduction of temperature andhumidity in the air, valve 22 is closed and pump 23 does not operate;valves 1 and 2li are open and pump 9 is operating as well as blower 21.

Water from the bottom of the ice chamber is drawn through pipe I0 by thepump il and delivered through pipe B to the sprays Il. Here the cooledwater is sprayed into the fresh air entering the system through theopening 2, and the previously used air entering chamber 4 through pipe30. The air passes through the spray and into discharge pipe 2G afterpassing through the eliminator or baille plates 25. With the systemproperly adjusted the air delivered by blower 21 into the space has thecorrect tempart or all of this returned water is shunted through themixing valve in a quantity depending upon the adjustment of the mixingvalve, into pipe I8 and is sprayed therefrom over the ice. This sprayedwater iiows over the surface of the ice, melting it, thus becomingcooled, and then drains into the receptacle at the bottom of the icechamber.

of this invention resides in the thermostatically or manually controlledvalve I9 by means oi' which the water returning through pipe I1 isdivided so as to be delivered to tank I2 and the adjusted to maintain asubstantially constant temperature of spray water as the ice melts.

The invention does not involve per se the form device employed since anyof the and the like. It is also pointed out that the thermostatic devicecan be placed adjacent the inlet of pipe 3l! or at any other point inthe system suitable for effecting the proper control.

As the ice melts valve I8 is adjusted so that more and more water owsover the ice and less returns directly to receptacle l2. Thus as thequantity of ice diminishes by melting, the reduction in cooling surfaceis compensated for by controlling the amount of water sprayed thereover.Valve I9 may be adjusted so that none of the water returns to receptacleI2, but all of it is sprayed over the ice.

Another .feature of this system is that when the relative humidity,vapor pressure, etc., of the air is at values which will permit it.suilicient cooling and humidifying of the air may be obtained, withoutthe use of ice. In this operation of the system valves I and 20 areclosed, valve 22 is open and pump 23 is operated. Of course, blower 21is also operating, although pump 8 is not in operation. 'Ihe water inreceptacle 5 is then continuously circulated through pump 23 and sprayedinto the air. 'I'he evaporation oi' the sprayed water is then sufficientto maintain a substantially uniform temperature condition. if the airbeing treated is at the proper temperature. relative humidity and vaporpressure.

From the above description it will be apparent that this inventionrecites certain principles which may be employed in other physical formsand carried out in other ways without departure from the invention. I donot, therefore. desire to be strictly limited to the disclosure as givenfor purposes of illustration, but rather to the scope of the appendedclaims.

What 1 seek to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In an air cooling and conditioning system the combination comprisingan ice chamber having a water receptacle therein, means for circulatingwater over the ice in the ice chamber, means for delivering the waterfrom the water receptacle and spraying it into air conned to a flowpath, means for returning the sprayed water to the receptacle and to themeans for circulating water over the ice, and automatic means forcontrolling the amount of water returned directly to the receptacle andthe amount of water returned to the means for circulating water over theice to maintain a constant spray water temperature.

2. A combination as described comprising a space, the air of which is tobe conditioned. said space having air inlet and outlet ports, a pipesystem including a blower connected to said ports and to a source offresh outside air, means for spraying water into the air as itcirculates through said pipe system. means for collecting the sprayedwater including a tank, an ice chamber having a water receptacle. meansfor delivering water from said receptacle to said sprays at asubstantially constant temperature, a water spray in said ice chamber,and connections between said tank, said receptacle and said water sprayin the ice chamber including control means for proportioning the amountof water delivered to the water spray ln the ice chamber and the waterreceptacle as the area of the ice is reduced by melting to maintain thetemperature of the water going to the means for spraying water into theair substantially constant.

3. In an apparatus of the type described the combination comprisingmeans for defining a path of air flow having an inlet and au outlet. aspace into which the outlet discharges, means for spraying water intothe air as it ilows thrcugzi said means for dening a path of air iiow,an ice chamber having a receptacle below the ice. means for returningthe sprayed water, part for circulation over the ice and part to thereceptacle, and means controlled by the temperature of the water sprayedinto the air for automatically proportioning the parts circulated overthe ice and returned to the receptacle.

4. In an apparatus ol the type described the combination comprisingmeans for denning a path o! air ilow having an inlet and an outlet. aspace into which the outlet discharges, means for spraying water intothe air as it dows through said means for dening a path of air now, anice chamber having a receptacle below the ice, means for returning thesprayed water, part for circulation over the ice and part to thereceptacle, and thermostatic means for automatically proportioning theparts circulated over the ice and returned to the receptacle.

5. In an apparatus o! the type described the combination comprisingmeans for dening a path of air ow having an inlet and an outlet, a spaceinto which the outlet discharges, means for spraying water into the airas it flows through said means for defining a path of air flow, an icechamber having a receptacle below the ice, means for returning thesprayed water, part for circulation over the ice and part to thereceptacle, thermostatic means for automatically proportioning the partscirculated over the ice and returned to the receptacle. saidthermostatlc means being subject to the temperature of the water goingto the spraying means.

6. In a method of conditioning air, the steps of spraying cooled waterinto the air to be conditioned, dividing the water after spraying intotwo parts, delivering one part directly to a receptacle, spraying theother part over ice, varying the quantity of the part sprayed over theice as the area of the ice is reduced by melting, collecting the partsprayed over the ice in the receptacle with the iirst part, the mixturein the receptacle providing the cooled spraying water for spraying intothe air and providing it at a substantially constant temperature as theice melts, and controlling the variation o! the amount of the partsprayed over the ice by'the temperature of the water being sprayed intothe air '1. In an air cooling and conditioning system the combinationcomprising an ice chamber having a water receptacle therein, means forcirculating water over the ice in the ice chamber, means for circulatingthe water from the water receptacle in heat exchange relation with airconiined to a flow path, means for returning the circulated water to thereceptacle and to the means for circulating water over the ice, andautomatic means subject to the temperature o the water going to thecirculating means for controlling the amount o! water returned directlyto the receptacle and the amount of water returned to the means the iceto maintain a constant temperature of the water delivered to thecirculating means.

8. In an apparatus of the type described the combination comprisingmeans for dening a path of air ilow having an inlet and an outlet, aspace into which the outlet discharges, means for circulating water inheat exchange relation with theA air as it flows through said means fordeiining a path oi' air flow, an ice chamber having a receptacle belowthe ice, means for returning the circulated water, part for circulationover the ice and part to the receptacle, and means controlled by thetemperature of the water circulated in heat exchange relation with theair for automatically proportioning the parts circulated over the iceand returned to the receptacle.

9. In an apparatus of the type described the combination comprisingmeans for deiining a path of air ilow having an inlet and an outlet, aspace into which the outlet discharges, means for effecting heatexchange between water and the air as it flows through said means fordeiining a path of air flow, an ice chamber having a receptacle belowthe icel means for returning the water, part for circulation over theice and part to the receptacle. and thermostatic means subject to thetemperature o1' the water going to the circulating means portioning theparts circulated over the ice and returned to the receptacle.

EDWARD L. GARFIELD.

for circulating water over i for automatically pro- 45

